Just wait until the second group gets a little further Aiden, please, Abby whispered.
I decided to let her try to persuade Aiden, he had a harder time saying no to her than he did to me. He looked hesitant but he waited until the second group was already on the bridge. The first group was only twenty feet from the end, and beginning to fade from sight. Then, without further speaking to us, Aiden began to move from the woods. I glanced franticly back at Cade.
He started moving forward, his jaw locked. The fierce determination in his gaze was a sign of impending trouble. I knew he wasnt going to make me cross that bridge if I really didnt want to. I shivered in response to the fire burning in his coal dark eyes. Aiden wait, he ordered coldly.
Aiden spun back toward him, but the other two members of Cades group were also coming forward. One of them was the girl who had claimed to know how to scuba dive. Molly, she said, thrusting her small hand forward to shake ours. I took hold of her hand, surprised by the strength in her firm grip as I introduced myself.
Well go now instead. Youll see, well all be fine, the man said. He shot Abby and I a sympathetic look that aggravated the hell out of me and set my teeth on edge.
Fine, Aiden said. Lets go Bret.
Wait, Bret protested instantly. Bethany
Its ok Bret, Ill be fine. I want to stay with Abby.
Cade can go over with Aiden.
Hope sparked in Jennas eyes; it was obvious she wanted nothing more than to be with Bret. Abby looked franticly back and forth between the two groups. I was ashamed by the spurt of disappointment that shot through me, ashamed by the fact that I did not want to be separated from Cade. Lets just go, Aiden said impatiently.
Its ok Bret, Ill be fine. I hated the deception that made those words come from my mouth, but I hated the thought of not being with Cade even more.
I dont want to leave you here.
Bret come on, Aiden interjected, practically bouncing on his toes in his eagerness to move.
Bethany?
I forced down the lump in my throat. Ill be fine.
Do you want me to stay? he inquired.
I wanted them all to stay, but it didnt seem to matter what I wanted right now. Its fine, I managed to choke out.
He smiled tremulously at me, squeezed my hand, and kissed me gently on the lips. I did not recoil from him, did not push him away. In fact I kissed him back because I was fairly certain I would never see him again, and I did love him. He hurried to join Aiden as Cade swiftly took Brets place at my side. I stared sadly up at Cade, struggling not to cry as Abby began to sob softly.
The first group reached the other side of the bridge; I could almost feel their relief. They were not out of the woods yet, they were still in the middle of a highway, completely exposed and out in the open, but they had made it that far. It was much further than I had thought they were going to make it. Hope began to fill me as I realized that perhaps I had been wrong after all, perhaps we were all going to make it across. Perhaps the bridges were the answer.
I suddenly wanted to run across the bridge, race over to the other side and kiss the ground of the mainland. I glanced eagerly at Cade, Abbys tears began to dry up, Jenna looked like she was about to start jumping for joy. The second group was more than halfway there; Aiden was almost to the IHOP. Lets go, Jenna said eagerly.
Cade nodded at me, I managed a wan smile for him. Jenna stepped out of the shadows, making her way toward the road. I swallowed nervously, gathered my courage, and followed Jenna forward. Abby clung tighter to me, but she was no longer crying, and she was moving with us. Cade stayed close to my side, little shivers of pleasure shot through me every time his arm brushed against mine. I didnt feel so awful about us right now, I couldnt. I needed him.
It was just that simple right now.
Aiden was at the foot of the bridge. The second group was almost safely to the other side when light blazed forth. For a moment I was blinded, and completely confused. I thought something had happened with the lights on the bridge, that perhaps a power surge had somehow caused them to blaze even brighter.
Then, I heard the screams.
CHAPTER 12
I didnt stop to think. I shoved Abby back, pushing her towards the woods. Run! I hissed at her. She turned beneath my shoving hands, stumbling toward the forest. I turned and plunged in the opposite direction. Aiden!
I couldnt see him over the bright glare of the lights burning my irises, couldnt hear him above the agonized screams that shredded the still night. Aiden!
I was running into the light, running toward the certain death that made it impossible to see the bridge any longer. I had no idea where I was anymore, no idea where I was running to. I stumbled, tripped, and sprawled onto grass. I had somehow managed to make it into the rotary, where exactly in the rotary I was though, I didnt know. I could be closer to the bridge; I could be on the complete opposite side. I struggled back to my feet.